As the year comes to a close, and people start to begin a new chapter, some stories remain frozen in time.
This is the fate that has beset some books on offer in Oldham’s library system – with some books overdue by more than a decade.
You might expect some big fines for the top books – but Oldham’s library service hasn’t charged overdue fines for books, with previous fines cancelled, since August 2019.
Here are the top 10 overdue library books in Oldham’s library system:
1. Horrid Henry robs the bank by Francesca Simon
Borrowed from Crompton Library in March 2011, this children’s book is recommended for readers aged seven to eight.
Francesca Simon’s Horrid Henry gets up to his usual mischief in this 2008 novel, which was due back at the library on March 31, 2011.
Luckily, Oldham’s library system has another copy of the book for those looking to get their Horrid Henry fix.
The location of the first copy remains a mystery – with Oldham’s library system contacting the borrower seven years later, in August 2018, who said they had never borrowed the book.
2. Hieronymus Betts and His Unusual Pets by M.P. Robertson
Six books are tied for second place – all of which were given out in June 2011 and due in July 2011.
As well as children’s book Hieronymous Betts and His Unusual Pets, which shows illustrations of unusual pets, including a pet dragon, owned by the eponymous character, other missing books include children’s picture book Super Safari by Tony Mitton, and advice books Pregnancy & Birth by Tina Otte, Understanding children with language problems by Shula Chiat, Loving Olivia: Bringing Up my Autistic Daughter by Liz Astor, and Calm your hyperactive child by Sabina Dosani.
As of now, most copies of the book remain unavailable – with the borrower claiming they’d never borrowed any of them when the library service checked in July 2018.
8. The Missing Dinosaur by Davey Moore
Based off the Big & Small TV series, this aptly named book has been missing from Oldham’s libraries since July 2011. It was due back in November of the same year but was never returned.
No other copies of the book are available from the library service, and it does not show in a search of the library’s system.
9. Postman Bear: A lift-the-flap book by Julia Donaldson
The children’s book by Julia Donaldson was given out in January 2011 and due to return in January 2012, but it was never returned. Readers can lift the flaps in the book to join Frog, Squirrel and Mole in Acorn Wood for Bear’s special surprise. In 2018, the borrower said they’d never borrowed the book.
10. Finest worlds and Night and day by Michael Green
Both tied for tenth place – these paperback collections of Michael Green comics follow characters from DC Comics’ Superman and Batman universe as they go up against classic foes. Oldham’s copies of the stories were due back in August 2012, to never return.
According to the library system, upon checking in October 2018 the borrower claimed they’d never borrowed them.
Councillor Elaine Taylor, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “We have a no fines policy on overdue books since September 2019, so we encourage anyone who has overdue books, no matter how long ago, to return them and reactive their library membership.
“We want all library users to continue enjoying all the different services the library has to offer, including being a warm bank over these winter months, with plenty of activities for families to enjoy.”
